I hope to see you this weekend (Sat, Sun, Mon) at the Perth Autumn Studio Tour. I will be with four other artists at Studio#1.

The tour packs 21 artists into 7 studio locations (all within a few minutes drive of each other) against the autumn-coloured backdrop of meandering country roads. The Perth area is known for its high-quality craftspeople and artists. I am beyond proud to be considered one of them!

Where: Various studios in the countryside around Perth (about an hour West of Ottawa) along HWY 7. Map.

When: All three days of Thanksgiving long weekend. Oct. 11, 12, 13, 2014 ~~ 10AM-5PM each day.

Art along a riverbank

Artists bring their studio to you for this “studio tour”. You park once and let us do the rest. We’ve set up artisan food ‘stands’, a micro-brewery ale ‘stand’, a live music ‘stage’, and our ‘studios’ so that you can experience local arts in a natural setting along the bank of the Fall River. One visitor put it perfectly:

“It’s such a pleasure to have time to talk, time to stroll and time to sit by the river or enjoy the food and music, and not have to rush to the next studio… what a great idea.”

Our Hosts

This festival is hosted by Fall River Restaurant & Pub, an award-winning locale with accolades for their choice of organic, local, sustainable food sources, their energy-efficient building, and their fine menu. Since the festival is partnered with this locally-owned business, you’ll have ample free parking, easy access to facilities and a place to stop for a tasty meal during your visit.

A lovely neighbour (retired farmer and physician) offered to break sod so that we can have an in-ground garden. Here, “Dr. John” pulls discs behind his tractor to break up chunks of earth after having driven the plow through it. In the next newsletter, I’ll show more photos and video of our progress.

Here are snap-shots showing some of the many steps from plowing to planting. I hope to get some video uploaded for you in the next few months.

It’s grown significantly since these photos were taken in March-June, 2016. I look forward to showing you our progress in a subsequent update.

Anyone who knows me knows my love of fish and recycling. I’ve dipped my toe in watercolour, acrylic, recycled objects, abstract, and mosaic. And, I’ve produced my images on T-shirts, in jewellery, and in greeting card format. This is not an exhaustive selection but it does well-represent my art on the theme. Enjoy!

I hope you will join me… If you’re in Ottawa, I will be showing with Alice Hinther, and other talented artists against the backdrop of a beautiful back-yard tea and garden party. Drop by to view our latest creations and enjoy some home-made goodies and tea. Feel free to invite your friends and bring your kids to this relaxed and enjoyable weekend.

We are preparing for hens at the farm! …
In this day of mass farming, where millions of chickens are mistreated for the almighty egg production market — you will be doing your part to humanely supply cage-free, well-loved chickens with a loving (they will get hugged daily!) and peaceful home in order to provide people with the ultimate ethical egg. Not only will they be cage-free, they will be outdoors (free-range) during the day. To create this reality, we only need $1200.

How the money will be spent: We need to rejuvenate this old coop with a new floor to keep foxes out, a new outdoor run to keep the hens out of the garden, and nesting, water, and food stations. We also need to purchase beautiful Road-Island Red Laying Hens. My family and I will put all the construction hours in for free, and document the process in photos/video for you.

Donors have a choice of these benefactor categories:

***** The Kindness Poacher: Every penny counts — donate ANY amount up to $24, as your pocket book allows. Rewards: inner peace knowing that you did your part to make sure that hens are living a full, fresh-air and active life.

***** The Sunny-side-up Eggs Bene-factor: Be 1 of 12 people needed to donate $25. Rewards: as above, PLUS a hen named in your honour, and a photo of ‘your’ hen.

***** The Double-yolker Supporter: Be 1 of 9 people needed to donate $50. Rewards: everything as above, PLUS you will receive a dozen of the first eggs produced (either as pickled or fresh – depending on how far away you are!)

***** The Egg’cellent Philanthropist: Be 1 of 4 people needed to donate $100. Rewards: everything as above, PLUS your hen’s footprint/name immortalized in the cement walk-way of fame!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ If we manage to beat this goal, more space and more outdoor areas will be built for our avian friends.

I’ve just launched my first colouring book! This one features 20 Flora & Fauna images from my original mosaic artworks. They are $20 each. Bulk orders/prices available. It is a fundraiser for the farm where my Art By Choleena studio is located. I hope you will consider buying one. They are on Etsy. Thank you!

Did you know that colouring for all ages has become a European and North American fad? Colouring is an effective de-stresser for adults. It is also being praised for the calming effect that it has on geriatric patients, especially those who are stroke victims.

I’ve taken my TARDIS artwork and turned it into an LED tea-light. Since it’s flame-less, there is no worry of fire. I cut each window by hand, then glue four copies together to make a four-sided cover for the tea-light. So cute! Just $20 for choleena.com members. Get in touch if you’d like one. The first three photos in the gallery below show other angles of this tea-light.

I have also turned my TARDIS into a number of other funky things. Here is a gallery showing many of them.

The tea-light, “lit”.

Showing the cover going over an LED “tea-light” (no flame; battery-operated).